Short answer
In the Hanafi school you raise your hands only at the first takbir, and say the other three takbirs without raising them. The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools raise the hands at all four. Both practices come from the early generations, so follow your own school and do not argue at the funeral.
Raising the hands at the first takbir is sunnah. At the second, third and fourth takbirs the hands are not raised, according to the relied-upon (zahir al-riwayah) position. The hands are folded below the navel after the first takbir, as in other prayers.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Raises the hands at every one of the four takbirs.
- Hanbali
- Raises the hands at every one of the four takbirs.
Explanation
This is one of the small differences you will notice at a funeral where people from different backgrounds pray together. Some raise their hands at each takbir, some only at the first. Both are following scholars, and the prayer of each is valid.
The Hanafi practice. Raise both hands to the ears with the first takbir, then fold them below the navel. Say the next three takbirs while keeping the hands folded. Hanafi scholars explain that each takbir of the janazah stands in place of a rak'ah, and in the daily prayers the hands are raised only at the opening takbir. Reports from several Companions and early scholars of Kufa also describe raising the hands at the first takbir only.
The other view. The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools raise the hands at all four takbirs. They rely on reports that Ibn Umar did this, and they treat each takbir like the opening takbir. Some later Hanafi scholars in Balkh also chose this, but it is not the relied-upon position of the school.
- If you pray behind an imam of another school, follow your own school in raising the hands; this does not affect following him.
- What matters more is that all four takbirs are said and that you make sincere dua for the dead after the third.
- If you are unsure, the Hanafi rule is simple: hands up once, then folded until the salam.
For the whole prayer step by step, see how to pray janazah.
The evidence
Sahih al-Bukhari 1245
Sahih... فصف بهم وكبر أربعا ...
"He lined them up in rows and said takbir four times."
The janazah is four takbirs said while standing, which is what all schools agree on.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, Bab al-Jana'iz, section on the funeral prayer. Hands are raised only at the first takbir.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, Bab Salat al-Janazah. Notes the Balkhi scholars who chose raising at every takbir, and that the zahir al-riwayah is the first only.
- al-Mughni (Ibn Qudama), Kitab al-Jana'iz, raising the hands in the funeral prayer. The Hanbali position of raising at every takbir.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.